Tonganoxie post office seeks offers for building

The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with plans for a new post office in Tonganoxie.

The postal service now is soliciting for existing buildings or for vacant land. The deadline to submit proposals is May 4.

Tonganoxie Postmaster Ron Hubbard said several people already have talked with him about property they have available.

Hubbard hopes that he will have solicitation packages available by today at the local post office, 526 E. Fourth.

"I've already had four people approach me for the packet information, and of course I don't have it yet," Hubbard said Tuesday. "I can think of four who want to pick up the proposal packets. ... But really, I haven't got too much of a clue of what anybody's going to propose yet."

The postal service wants to replace the existing post office because of an increase in the amount of mail that is being processed locally.

Russ Rainey, project manager for the postal service, said officials prefer that land or a building be within an area bounded by Parallel Road on the north, Kansas Avenue on the south, 206th Street on the east and 222nd Street on the west.

For vacant land, the postal service is looking for a site that is between 50,000 and 55,000 square feet. And if a building is offered, it must be about 5,750 square feet.

For years, rumors have circulated that Tonganoxie would be tapped for a new post office. Earlier this year, Rainey visited with Tonganoxie City Council members, asking the public for any input on the idea of a new post office. Postal service officials have determined that expanding the existing site is not an option.

"I think we're getting ready to start phase two," Hubbard said. "We've had the community input phase, and now we'll have the developer phase."

If a new building must be built -- rather than retrofitting an existing building -- Hubbard said he anticipates it will be 18 to 24 months before the post office would move to new quarters.

"We're looking forward to it," he said. "Just having a bigger space to work in will be nice."